ST. LOUIS, MO. – Sarah Nelson of Dominican University of California was named the inaugural U.S. Basketball Writers Association Women's Division II National Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 7. This is the first season the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division II.

Nelson, a 6-4 senior center from Clayton, California, led Dominican to its best Division II start in school history with two wins last weekend by averaging 20.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 9.0 blocks per game. In an 85-60 home win over Notre Dame de Namur, Nelson recorded 22 points, a career-high 17 rebounds, and eight blocked shots. She then reached that elusive triple-double with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and a school-record 10 blocked shots in a 66-63 road win at Holy Names. Nelson leads the PacWest Conference and NCAA DII with 5.5 blocks per game. Dominican is 4-3 overall and matched its best start in PacWest play at 2-0.

Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division II National Players of the Week. This is the first season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division II.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball.